The Mystery Model - Will Subaru Reveal A New SUV By STI At Tokyo Auto Salon?

Will Subaru reveal a new SUV at the Tokyo Auto Salon? Subaru Corporation announced, along with Subaru Tecnica International (STI), they will bring five models to the Tokyo Auto Salon that runs from January 14 to 16, 2022, in Chiba, Japan.

Subaru said they would showcase the STI E-RA Concept, the Levorg STI performance concept, WRX S4 STI performance concept, a Subaru BRZ STI performance sports coupe, and Subaru BRZ GT300 2021 model that raced in the Super GT 2021 series.

But the photo released by Subaru shows six cars, and two are covered and hidden from view until the unveiling in mid-January. We assume one vehicle will be the STI E-RA Concept believed to be an all-electric STI performance car. The SUV parked next to it is a mystery model and not announced by Subaru Corporation.

All the models Subaru is bringing to the Tokyo Auto Salon are vehicles built by its performance and motorsport subsidiary Subaru Tecnica International. It's pure speculation, but will Subaru bring a new performance SUV to the show?

The image above clearly shows the covered model is an SUV, and every other model at the Subaru exhibit is a performance model developed by Subaru and STI. Subaru says all the models come equipped with STI performance parts "to make these models sportier and deliver greater enjoyment."

Is the mystery SUV a turbocharged Forester STI?

Fans have asked for a performance SUV since they dropped the sporty Forester XT after the 2018 model year. Could the new mystery SUV be a Subaru Forester STI with a 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine?

Subaru enthusiasts have asked for a Forester turbocharged model since the Japanese automaker dropped the Forester 2.0XT. The U.S.-specification 2022 Forester and Forester Wilderness only come with a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated Boxer.

Subaru of America COO Tom Doll, in an interview at the Chicago Auto Show in 2018, said the Japanese automaker wouldn't be bringing a Forester turbo anytime soon. Doll says it's because the demand for the newly-redesigned Forester SUV is too high right out of the gate for them to offer a turbo version.

Is the mystery SUV a next-generation 2023 Subaru Crosstrek?

The covered SUV in the image above doesn't look like a Forester outline, but it appears to be the Crosstrek subcompact SUV. Will Subaru showcase a next-generation 2023 Crosstrek with STI upgrades? A next-generation 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is getting a new Wilderness trim level, and the subcompact would be the ideal model for STI performance upgrades.

Would you buy a new 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Sport with a 2.4-liter Boxer engine and STI performance upgrades? Let us know in the comments below.

The Tokyo Auto Salon runs from January 14 to 16, and two new reveals are coming. The world premiere of the STI E-RA Concept is believed to be an all-electric STI performance car, and they will also uncover the mystery SUV. Subaru is notorious for keeping secrets. Stay tuned.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru